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Opacity control in Figma - Dashboard Guide

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Dashboard Mode - Opacity control
Dashboard Goal

Understand how changing opacity affects the visibility of dashboard elements to improve clarity and focus.

Sample Data
Region Sales Profit Month
North10030January
South20050January
East15040January
West12035January
North13045February
South21055February
East16042February
West14038February
Dashboard Components
  • KPI Card - Total Sales: Shows total sales across all regions and months. Formula: SUM(Sales) = 1210
  • KPI Card - Total Profit: Shows total profit across all regions and months. Formula: SUM(Profit) = 335
  • Bar Chart - Sales by Region: Displays sales totals per region. Opacity set to 100% for clear visibility.
  • Line Chart - Profit Trend: Shows profit over months. Opacity set to 60% to keep it subtle behind the bar chart.
  • Filter - Month Selector: Dropdown to select January or February, which updates all visuals.
Dashboard Layout
+----------------------+----------------------+
|  Total Sales (100%)  |  Total Profit (100%)  |
+----------------------+----------------------+
|                                              |
|  Bar Chart Sales (100%)                        |
|                                              |
|                                              |
+----------------------------------------------+
|                                              |
|  Line Chart Profit (60% opacity)               |
|                                              |
+----------------------------------------------+
|  Month Selector Filter                         |
+----------------------------------------------+
Interactivity

The Month Selector filter controls the data shown in both KPI cards and charts. When a month is selected, all components update to show sales and profit for that month only.

Opacity settings help users focus: the bar chart is fully visible (100% opacity) to highlight sales, while the line chart uses 60% opacity to provide trend context without overpowering the main data.

Self Check

If you select February in the Month Selector, which components update and how does opacity affect what you see?

  • All KPI cards and charts update to show February data only.
  • The bar chart remains fully visible, clearly showing February sales by region.
  • The line chart remains at 60% opacity, showing the profit trend for February subtly behind the bar chart.
Key Result
Dashboard demonstrating how opacity control highlights key sales data while keeping profit trends visible but subtle.

Practice

(1/5)
1. What does setting the opacity to 0% do to an object in Figma?
easy
A. Makes the object completely invisible
B. Makes the object fully visible
C. Changes the object color to white
D. Locks the object from editing

Solution

  1. Step 1: Understand opacity scale

    Opacity ranges from 0% (invisible) to 100% (fully visible).

  2. Step 2: Apply opacity 0%

    Setting opacity to 0% means the object is fully transparent and cannot be seen.

  3. Final Answer:

    Makes the object completely invisible -> Option A

  4. Quick Check:

    Opacity 0% = Invisible [OK]
Hint: Opacity 0% means fully invisible, 100% fully visible [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Confusing opacity 0% with white color
  • Thinking opacity 0% locks the object
  • Assuming opacity 0% makes object semi-transparent
2. Which of the following is the correct way to set opacity to 50% in Figma's Properties panel?
easy
A. Type 500 in the opacity input box
B. Type 0.5 in the opacity input box
C. Type 5 in the opacity input box
D. Type 50 in the opacity input box

Solution

  1. Step 1: Check opacity input format

    Figma opacity is set as a percentage from 0 to 100, not decimal.

  2. Step 2: Identify correct input for 50%

    Typing 50 means 50% opacity, which is half transparent.

  3. Final Answer:

    Type 50 in the opacity input box -> Option D

  4. Quick Check:

    Opacity input uses percentage numbers [OK]
Hint: Use whole numbers 0-100 for opacity, not decimals [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Entering decimal like 0.5 instead of 50
  • Typing values greater than 100
  • Confusing opacity with fill color values
3. If a rectangle has opacity set to 30% and a blue fill color, what will be the visual effect on a white background?
medium
A. The rectangle appears white
B. The rectangle appears as a light blue transparent shape
C. The rectangle appears fully blue and opaque
D. The rectangle is invisible

Solution

  1. Step 1: Understand opacity effect on color

    Opacity reduces the color's visibility by making it transparent.

  2. Step 2: Apply 30% opacity on blue fill

    Blue color will show but faintly, blending with white background.

  3. Final Answer:

    The rectangle appears as a light blue transparent shape -> Option B

  4. Quick Check:

    Low opacity = lighter, transparent color [OK]
Hint: Lower opacity means color looks lighter and see-through [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Thinking opacity changes the fill color itself
  • Assuming 30% opacity means mostly opaque
  • Confusing opacity with brightness
4. You set an object's opacity to 120% in Figma. What will happen?
medium
A. Figma will show an error and not accept the value
B. The object will become invisible
C. The opacity will be capped at 100%
D. The object will become semi-transparent

Solution

  1. Step 1: Check valid opacity range

    Opacity values must be between 0% and 100% in Figma.

  2. Step 2: Understand input behavior for out-of-range values

    Figma caps values above 100% to 100%, no error shown.

  3. Final Answer:

    The opacity will be capped at 100% -> Option C

  4. Quick Check:

    Opacity max is 100%, inputs above are capped [OK]
Hint: Opacity cannot exceed 100%, values above are limited [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Expecting an error message for invalid opacity
  • Thinking opacity above 100% makes object invisible
  • Assuming opacity can be more than fully visible
5. You want to highlight a button by making the background color fully visible but the icon on top semi-transparent at 40% opacity. How should you set the opacity values?
hard
A. Set button background opacity to 100% and icon opacity to 40%
B. Set button background opacity to 40% and icon opacity to 100%
C. Set both button background and icon opacity to 40%
D. Set both button background and icon opacity to 100%

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify desired visibility for button background

    The background should be fully visible, so opacity must be 100%.

  2. Step 2: Identify desired visibility for icon

    The icon should be semi-transparent, so set opacity to 40%.

  3. Final Answer:

    Set button background opacity to 100% and icon opacity to 40% -> Option A

  4. Quick Check:

    Background fully visible + icon semi-transparent = Set button background opacity to 100% and icon opacity to 40% [OK]
Hint: Full opacity for background, lower opacity for overlay elements [OK]
Common Mistakes:
  • Setting background opacity too low and losing visibility
  • Making icon fully opaque when semi-transparent is needed
  • Confusing which element needs which opacity